ARSENE WENGER has promised referee Mike Jones his players will keep their distance when they play Newcastle today – provided he keeps his distance too.

Wenger doesn't believe his Arsenal side have a problem with crowding officials

The Gunners are generally among the better behaved when it comes to the issue of surrounding officials after Wenger became mortified at some of his early behaviour towards referees and their assistants.

But he feels the general malaise that is increasingly blighting the game is due to the fact that referees are becoming too close – both physically and metaphorically – and a few boundaries need to be established.

“I question myself on my individual behaviour because I am sometimes keen to [complain] as well,” Wenger said. “But with the team I don’t think we have had too much of that problem. It is important because we want everybody to be respected.

“Maybe part of it is that they are too close today to the situation and sometimes even they are in the way of the pass when the player has the ball.

“I can show you some situations where they hide the vision of the pass. And because they are directly involved in the situations, they are surrounded sometimes when they should maybe take a bit of distance.”

It maybe a result of the pressure of the professional game

Arsene Wenger

When asked if referees were also guilty of becoming too pally with players and should instead keep their distance, his answer was emphatic. “A distance,” he said. “I’m for that.”

Ideally, he wants a similar level of respect as rugby players enjoy – although he warned even that may not last for much longer.

“In rugby it doesn’t exist,” he said. “Unfortunately since they have become professional I have seen signs of them as well starting slowly to question the decisions of the referees. Even during the game, which you never saw before. So it as well maybe a result of the pressure of the professional game.”

When asked if referees were also guilty of becoming too pally with players and should instead keep their distance, his answer was emphatic. “A distance,” he said. “I’m for that.”

Ideally, he wants a similar level of respect as rugby players enjoy – although he warned even that may not last for much longer.

“In rugby it doesn’t exist,” he said. “Unfortunately since they have become professional I have seen signs of them as well starting slowly to question the decisions of the referees. Even during the game, which you never saw before. So it as well maybe a result of the pressure of the professional game.”